THOMAS TASCHINGER: Stockman's strange story staggers on

Published 2:00 am, Sunday, June 3, 2012

The strange saga of Steve Stockman began another chapter in Southeast Texas on Tuesday. We've had some political characters over the years, and Stockman is one of the most unusual - or notorious.

He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He can survive blows that would finish off other politicians. He can throw a Hail Mary pass - and complete it.

And he did all of the above Tuesday.

Stockman got into the runoff in the congressional district 36 race covering Orange, Hardin, Chambers and other East Texas counties. In fact, he was the top finisher, taking 26 percent of the vote, followed by Steven Takach of Baytown, who got 21 percent.

Stockman, of course, had been a congressman from 1995 to 1997, defeating the legendary Democrat, Jack Brooks. It was an achievement for the unknown challenger, but it was largely due to him being on the ballot as a Republican at the right time.

The election in November 1994 was a once-a-generation tsunami for the GOP - and nightmare for Democrats. It was the first chance voters had to lash back at President Clinton and that national health care plan (sound familiar?) his wife tried to shove past Congress. Newt Gingrich fueled the fire brilliantly with his Contract With America.

As soon as the polls opened, any Democrat was in trouble and any Republican was in luck. Stockman rode the wave all the way to Washington, until the next election, when he was easily beaten by Nick Lampson.

But memories die hard in East Texas, and they were enough to carry Stockman in this election.

It wasn't because of his long presence in District 36, because as a resident of Friendswood he didn't live in it. He originally filed for the other new district in the region, 14, which contained Beaumont lawyers Michael Truncale and Jay Old along with 10 other candidates.

But the savvy Stockman realized that the District 14 race had some heavyweights in it. So he quickly shifted to the weak field of 12 candidates in District 36.

He certainly didn't win Tuesday because of fund-raising. According to the website OpenSecrets.org, he raised only $23,102. That was fifth in the field of 12 and well behind the leader, Takach, who raked in more than 10 times that amount - $347,724.

Stockman apparently didn't even campaign much. I attended the forum at Lamar State College Orange on May 8 presented by the Orange County Republican Party. Stockman was there, but several candidates said it was the only such forum he attended out of the many held in each of the district's counties.

And it wasn't his strong ethical positions either. He shameless put out signs reading "Re-elect Congressman Stockman" even though he wasn't running for "re-election" in that district or any other, and he wasn't a "congressman" anymore.

All he really had going for him was his name, but it was enough. And if you think his luck has run out, think again.

The runoff election is two long months away, on Tuesday July 31. As with Tuesday's primary, few voters will thinking about politics then. They'll be enjoying (or suffering) through a long, hot summer, or they might even be away on vacation.

With low turnout and high name recognition, don't be surprised if Stockman finds a way to defy the odds one more time.

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Thomas Taschinger, TTaschinger@BeaumontEnterprise.com, is the opinions editor of The Beaumont Enterprise. Follow him on Twitter at @PoliticalTom